Lot 253
Native American, Northwest Coast, Alaska, Tlingit, early 20th century CE. Two exceedingly rare shaman canes made from long gnarled wood barrels. One features a handle representing a human hand with fingernails set with mother-of-pearl inlays, clasping a sweet bird with inlaid mother-of-pearl eyes. The second cane presents a slightly flared section with a sculpted handle representing a rather voracious animal - probably a wolf - with a half-open mouth revealing the tip of its tongue, a pronounced muzzle, and ears that are folded back. Both show beautiful, deep brown patina and come with custom stands. Size: bird in hand cane measures 36.625" L (93 cm); 37.5" H (95.2 cm) on stand; wolf cane measures 33.375" L (84.8 cm); 29.875" H (75.9 cm) on stand
This pairing of wolf and bird is quite interesting, because Tlingit society is divided into two moieties. These are termed Raven (Yeil) - which identifies with the raven (the trickster figure of the Northwest) as its primary symbol - and Eagle/Wolf (Ch'aak'/Ghooch) which usually identifies with the wolf or the eagle. A popular story about the raven tells of the raven who stole lightwhich symbolized knowledgeand thankfully brought it to humans. In most Native cultures, Wolf is regarded as a medicine being associated with courage, strength, loyalty, and successful hunting. Most Native American tribes considered wolves to be closely related to humans and they figure prominently in the origin stories of several Northwest Coast tribes. The wolf also has traditionally been regarded as an important clan crest along the Northwest Coast and can often be found carved on totem poles.
Both are ex-Sotheby's Paris (11 June 2008) - the wolf as lot 31 and the bird in the hand as lot 32.
Provenance: ex-Paul Gray/Ned Talhat collection; ex-Sotheby's Paris (11 June 2008) lot 31 (wolf) and lot 32 (bird in hand)
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